End-gate for motor-trucks.



B. GHEFFOLI.

END GATE FOR MOTOR TRUQKS. APPLICATION FILED'OCT. 11. 1915.

LQEAMQ atented-Se t. 4,1917.

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nun-GATE non MOTOR-TRUCKS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENEDETTO GrInrFoLI, citizen of the United States, residing at San Anselmo, county of Marin, State of Cali fornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in End-Gates for Motor- Trucks, whereof the following is a specification.

This invention relates to end gates for motor trucks or other vehicles and consists in a new and useful means for fastening such end gates in their closed position and in devices to be used in combination with such means to render the latter effective.

In carrying out the invention, I mount the end gate on hinges in the usual manner so that it will open downward. At each end of the, gate near the upper corner I provide a latch plate and to the body of the truck I apply latches, which engage said latch plates when the gate is in its closed position and retain it in that position. Upon the back of the gate I mount a rock-shaft in suitable bearings, with a hand piece by "i, which it may be rocked. The rock shaft has its ends bent or provided with cams which act upon the latches when the shaft is rocked and throw them out of engagement with the plates, whereby the gate is released and may be opened.

In the accompanying one sheet of drawing, I have illustrated my invention in its best form.

In the drawing 1 Figure 1 is an elevation from the rear of the truck, showing the gate closed and show ing only the contiguous portions of the truck. This figure is on a smaller scale than the remaining figures.

Fig. 2 is a duplicate of Fig. 1 but showing only one end of the latter.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation at right angles to Fig. 2, that is, showing the end edge of the gate and a portion of the side of the body of the truck.

Fig. l is a section taken on the line 4:, 4, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the latch plate.

In these figures:

1 represents the bed of the truck to which the end gate 2, is secured by the hinges 3.

4 are latch plates secured one to each upper corner of the gate 2. Each plate 4, has a guide notch 5, of a size to accommodate the latches as willappear hereinafter.

Specification of LettersIPatent. Patented Sept. 4L, 1917.

v Application filed. October 11, 1915. Serial No. 55,325.

A band 6, binds the edge of the gate and closes the otherwise open side of guide notch 5.

7 are spring latches secured to the sides of the body of the truck and which are I adapted to move laterally therefrom, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. They may be made of spring metal in the shape of an ornamental bar, 8, as shown, bolted or secured to the sides, 9, of the truck body and having the latches, 7 on their ends. The latches are adapted to project through the guide spaces, 5, formed by the notches in,

the latch plates and limited by the band 6, 10 is a rock shaft mounted upon the out side or back of the end gate 2, by means of the strap bearings 11, or otherwise. The

. shaft 10 extends across the gate nearly from end to end thereof and has its ends 12, bent into short arms or cams of a size and so positioned that they will contact with the latches 7, and throw them back out of engagement with the latch plates 4, thus freeing the gate. To secure this result it needs only to rock the shaft by raising the handle 13, secured to it at a convenient point. The handle 13, after rocking the shaft and freeing the gate may also be used to pull the gate open. Thus a virtually single continuous movement by the operator frees the gate and pulls it open.

Having thus described my invention, and an embodiment of it, in the full, clear and exact terms required by law, and knowing that it comprises novel, useful and valuable improvements in the art to which it pertains, I here state that I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction and. ar rangement of the several parts, as herein set forth, as the same may be variously modified by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit of the invention. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is the following, to wit Claim:

An end gate provided with latch plates near its upper corners having guide notches, a binding band surrounding the edge of said gate and closing the open sides of said notches, laterally movable spring latches adapted to project through said notches and engage the plates and thereby lock the gate in closed position, a rock-shaft mounted in bearings across the end of said. gate and provided with cam shaped ends adapted to two Witnesses, this 30th day of September, engage laterally the latches and disengage 1915. them from the latch plates and further provided with a handle, whereby it may be NEDETTO GHLFFOLI' 5 rocked and the gate pulled open. Witnesses:

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I LEON BOILLOT, have hereto set my hand in the presence of CERF ROSENTHAL.

Oopie: 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commiasioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

